A Youngstown 2nd Ward candidate withdrew from the Democratic primary

By David Skolnick | April 18, 2015 at 12:02a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

James E. Smith III, a Youngstown 2nd Ward council Democratic primary candidate, withdrew after learning from his employer that being in the race violates federal law.

“I’m tremendously disappointed,” said Smith, 61. “I’m sure you’ll see me in there four years from now. I had a good chance to win it. I’m still numb over the news.”

Smith, a transportation specialist for Community Development Institute, officially withdrew after learning from his employer that to remain a candidate would violate the Hatch Act.

The law prohibits, among other things, employees of certain agencies receiving federal funding to primarily pay their salaries from engaging in partisan political activity.

On Aug. 1, 2014, CDI, based in Denver, took over as interim operator of the Head Start program in Mahoning County. CDI will stop running the Head Start program in July, Smith said.

Smith said a CDI human- resources official called his boss about the violation, and his boss spoke to him about it.

“I can’t give up my job, so I can’t run for political office,” Smith said.

Smith said he spent about $900 on the race for yard signs and fliers.

Incumbent T.J. Rodgers and Doris Wright are the two remaining candidates in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Ward. The primary is May 5. There are no Republican challengers and no independent candidates. May 4 is the independent candidate filing deadline.

The 2nd Ward includes most of the city’s East Side.

Early voting started April 6. Any votes already cast for Smith will not be counted, said Thomas McCabe, Mahoning County Board of Elections’ deputy director.

Any early-voting ballot requests mailed by the board to Youngstown’s 2nd Ward voters will include a note stating Smith isn’t a candidate, and votes for him won’t be counted, McCabe said.

Also, the ballots for the May 5 primary have been printed. Signs will be posted at the 2nd Ward’s two polling locations to let people know Smith isn’t a candidate, and votes for him won’t be counted, McCabe said.